mnvmnv  of  ttuKorc .  ^  / 

y  /  ' 

BULLETIN  OF  THE  U  N  I  V  E  RS  I|D!yCD  R  OKLAHOMA 
NEW  SERIES  NO.  96.  UNIVERSITY  EXTENSION  SERIES  NO.  25 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  OKLAHOMA 

QUARTERLY  BULLETIN 

THE  UNIVERSITY  EXTENSION 

DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  INFORMATION  AND  WELFARE 


VISUAL  INSTRUCTION 

-=#(  BEAD  SUPPLEMENT  to* 
☆  Pan  *  u 


Norman,  Oklahoma 
September  19  15 


The  University  Bulletin,  published  by  the  university,  is  issued 
every  three  months  on  the  fifteenth  as  follows:  March,  June,  Septem¬ 
ber,  and  December.  Entered  at  the  postoffice  at  Norman,  as  second 
class  matter,  under  act  of  congress  of  July  16,  1894. 


INTRODUCTION 

In  this  bulletin  we  wish  to  give  as  far  as  possible  a  clear  and 
succinct  explanation  of  Visual  Instruction, — its  purpose,  plans, 
methods,  cost,  etc.  While  the  object  of  the  University  Extension 
is  to  bring  to  Oklahoma  the  benefits  of  a  service  which  has 
attained  such  popularity  in  other  states,  the  experience  of  other 
states  is  of  limited  value,  because  the  aim  here  is  to  introduce 
the  service  especially  into  rural  schools, — a  thing  which  has  not 
yet  been  successfully  done  on  a  large  scale.  Most  of  the  features 
of  the  Oklahoma  plan  are  new.  It  is  easy  to  furnish  visual  in¬ 
struction  to  the  towns  but  to  reach  isolated  rural  schools  is  a 
very  different  proposition. 

It  can  only  be  done  -by  local  cooperation  with  the  University 
Extension.  Where  the  county  superintendent  or  a  local  com¬ 
mittee  can  take  hold  of  it  energetically  success  is  easily  possible. 
The  plan  proposed  is  of  course  subject  to  modification  as  ex¬ 
perience  may  suggest.  Patience  and  persistence  will  be  required, 
but  the  result  will  amply  reward  them. 

Some  one  may  ask,  “Why  was  not  a  perfect  plan  studied  out 
to  begin  with  instead  of  groping  along  in  an  experimental 
way?”  As  well  ask,  “Why  was  not  the  present  steam  engine 
made  at  first.  Why  is  not  everything  perfect  to  begin  with?” 
To  one  who  has  given  the  problem  no  study  it  may  seem  very 
simple,  but  while  difficulties  are  not  insurmountable  their  elimi¬ 
nation  will  require  careful  and  willing  cooperation. 

The  most  mportant  factor  in  the  enterprise  is  the  county 
superintendent;  and  to  him  will  be  chiefly  due  the  honor  of 
success.  The  service  puts  a  new  and  great  instrumentality  into 
his  hands,  it  will  greatly  increase  the  value  and  influence  of  his 
office  and  enable  him  to  be  a  still  greater  factor  in  the  struggle 
for  educational  and  social  improvement. 

All  authorities  agree  that  the  chief  difficulties  of  rural  life 
are  isolation,  the  lack  of  wholesome  and  interesting  entertain¬ 
ment,  and  the  resulting  lack  of  cooperation.  Nothing  else  yet 
suggested  promises  more  for  the  alleviation  or  removal  of  these 
conditions  than  Visual  and  Musical  Instruction.  It  is  a  cause 
well  worth  our  effort  and  devotion. 


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WHAT  IS  IT? 


1.  Visual  instruction  is  teaching  by  means  of  explained  pic¬ 
tures,  diagrams,  maps,  etc.  Fully  85%  of  all  we  know  is  learned 
thru  the  eyes.  Impressions  thru  the  eyes  are  by  far  the  most 
vivid,  accurate,  and  permanent.  This  is  one  reason  why  children 
delight  so  in  pictures;  they  are  more  significant  and  meaningful 
than  any  other  means  of  knowledge.  The  same  knowledge  can 
be  obtained  far  more  clearly,  easily,  and  permanently  by  pictures 
than  by  any  other  means  yet  known. 

While  the  value  of  visual  instruction  has  long  been  known 
recent  investigation  and  discoveries  have  greatly  increased  the 
appreciation  of  it.  New  York  and  California  have  already  estab¬ 
lished  state  departments  entirely  devoted  to  it;  while  in  Wis¬ 
consin  it  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  departments  of  University 
Extension.  It  supplements  all  other  kinds  of  educational  en¬ 
deavor  and  opens  up  new  fields  of  educational  effort. 


HOW  USED 


2.  Visual  instruction  has  long  been  known  in  the  form  of 
illustrated  lectures  given  by  traveling  lecturers.  This  is  so 
expensive  that  very  few  such  lecturers  can  afford  to  carry  with 
them  an  outfit  sufficient  to  meet  the  demands,  and  so  such 
service  has  been  very  limited;  or  it  has  been  given  with  cheap 
apparatus  with  corresponding  results.  The  “Magic  Lantern 
Show”  has  never  been  worthy  the  name  of  Visual  Instruction. 

THE  PROBLEM  SOLVED 

3.  The  problem  has  been  to  save  the  avoidable  expenses  and 
put  all  the  money  into  the  essentials.  Experiments  in  Wisconsin 


f7 

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3 


and  other  states  show  that  it  can  be  done.  The  first  problem 
was  to  save  the  cost  of  the  lecturer, — his  salary  and  traveling 
expenses.  It  has  been  found  that  there  are  in  every  community 
a  number  of  men  and  women  and  even  children  who  are  abund¬ 
antly  able  to  commit  to  memory  a  simple  lecture  describing  a 
set  of  stereopticon  slides  illustrating  a  great  variety  of  subjects 
such  as  Travel,  Science,  Literature,  History,  Industries,  etc.  It 
has  been  found  also  that  the  benefits  to  the  community  from 
having  this  done  at  home  are  one  of  the  greatest  values  of  visual 
instruction;  the  illustrations  aid  the  teacher  as  well  as  the 
learner.  Doing  the  work  at  home  increases  the  community  self- 
respect  and  confidence,  so  that  we  hear  less  of,  “We  can’t  do 
anything  here.” 

HOW  THE  PROBLEM  IS  SOLVED 

4.  Typewritten  copies  of  the  lectures  subscribed  for  by  a 
community  are  sent  to  it  in  advance  and  are  assigned  by  the 
teacher  or  local  committee  to  different  individuals  to  prepare. 
Some  of  the  lectures,  at  least,  may  be  divided  among  several  of 
the  young  people  in  the  community,  or  even  among  the  older 
pupils  in  the  school.  The  manuscript  of  the  lecture  is  added  to 
the  school  library  and  will  be  reread  with  increasing  interest 
after  the  pictures  illustrating  it  have  been  seen.  So  the  com¬ 
munity  gets  the  benefit  both  of  receiving  and  giving  the  infor¬ 
mation  imparted  by  the  lectures,  and  at  the  same  time  eliminates 
the  chief  expense. 

COOPERATION  REDUCES  COST 

5.  A  first  class  illustrated  lecture  with  stereopticon  and 
slides  costs  from  $50.00  up.  Many  communities  cannot  afford 
this,  but  by  combining,  the  cost  to  each  community  may  be  made 
insignificant.  Slides  can  be  rented  from  Kansas  City,  for  ex¬ 
ample,  at  the  rate  of  $2.00  a  day  for  every  day  they  are  out,  in¬ 
cluding  time  required  for  transportation,  and  the  express  both. 


4 


-ways.  It  is  evident,  then,  that  the  possibility  of  visual  instruc¬ 
tion  depends  upon  the  cooperation  of  neighboring  communities. 
Where  such  cooperation  can  be  secured  the  University  Extension 
can  furnish  better  service  for  only  $6.00  for  a  course  of  six 
lectures,  an  average  of  only  $1.00  a  lecture.  Cooperation  under 
the  leadership  of  the  county  superintendent  may  bring  to  every 
community  in  the  state  lectures  which  were  formerly  in  the 
reach  of  only  the  larger  towns. 

THE  NEW  OPPORTUNITY  FOR  TEACHERS 
6.  Visual  Instruction  opens  a  new  door  of  opportunity  to  the 
enterprising  and  aspiring  teacher.  He  may  not  only  greatly 
increase  the  range  of  his  teaching  and  influence,  but  this  service 
will  aid  him  in  making  the  school  more  of  a  community  center; 
so  by  its  use  he  may  greatly  increase  the  scope  of  his  work  and 
his  usefulness  to  society.  It  gives  him  great  opportunities  both 
for  leadership  and  service;  it  is  an  inspiring  call  to  the  teacher 
whether  man  or  woman,  both  for  its  own  direct  value,  and  be¬ 
cause  it  is  a  stepping  stone  to  so  many  other  kinds  of  community 
effort. 


COMMUNITY  CENTERS 

7.  The  purpose  of  the  Visual  Instruction  service  is  not  only  to 
give  information  and  entertainment  but  to  aid  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  community.  It  stimulates  community  thought  and  feeling 
and  paves  the  way  for  all  kinds  of  community  cooperation  and 
effort.  It  is  urged  that  every  community  receiving  this  service 
add  to  it  other  forms  of  community  effort;  among  the  most 
valuable  and  practicable  have  been  found  to  be  a  Debating  Club, 
an  Agricultural  Club,  and  a  musical  organization  to  promote 
community  singing.  The  Extension  Divisions  of  both  the  Uni¬ 
versity  and  A.  &  M.  College  will  render  all  possible  assistance 
in  establishing  and  sustaining  these  community  activities. 


THE  LECTURES 

8.  These  are  being  prepared  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The 
subjects  now  in  preparation  are  as  follows:  India,  Japan,  Egypt, 
Colorado,  Hawaii,  Niagara  Falls — Yellowstone  Park — Keokuk 
Dam — History  of  Shoes,  Good  Roads,  Flower  Forms  and  Colors 
in  Relation  to  Insect  Visits,  Animal  Coloration,  Astronomy, 
Mexico  and  the  Mitla  Ruins,  Washington  City,  Scenic  Wonders 
of  Our  Great  West,  New  Era  in  Country  Life,  New  Era  in 
Country  Schools,  Holy  Land.  This  list  will  be  increased  as  fast 
as  resources  permit. 

THE  PICTURES 

9.  The  pictures  are  painted  in  natural  colors  and  are  the 
very  best  that  can  be  obtained.  They  are  packed  in  a  carefully 
made  shipping  case  to  prevent  breakage  and  are  sent  from 
county  to  county  according  to  a  prearranged  schedule.  When  a 
set  of  slides  reaches  a  county  the  county  superintendent  or  local 
committee  adds  the  advertising  slides  of  that  county,  puts  it 
with  the  sereopticon  outfit,  and  starts  it  on  its  tour  thru 
the  county.  After  completing  the  tour  it  comes  back  to  the 
county  superintendent  or  local  committee  or  agent,  who  takes 
out  the  advertising  slides  of  that  county  and  sends  the  box  of 
slides  on  to  the  next  county.  When  the  next  box  of  slides  comes 
to  that  county  the  same  process  is  repeated. 

A  LECTURE  COURSE 

10.  The  most  convenient  and  economical  lecture  course  consists 
of  six  lectures,  given  one  every  month  for  six  months.  The 
legislative  appropriation  for  university  extension  is  utterly  in¬ 
sufficient  to  give  every  community  what  it  wishes.  The  only 
sure  way  for  any  community  to  get  the  service  is  to  form  a  club 
of  12  communities  in  the  county.  These  groups  or  clubs  will  be 
provided  for  first  because  of  their  less  cost  and  greater  effici¬ 
ency.  However,  communities  which  are  unable  to  get  into  a 


6 


group  will  be  taken  care  of  just  as  soon  as  possible. 

TOTAL  EXPENSE 

11.  So  far  as  the  University  Extension  is  concerned  the  total 
expense  is  $6.00  for  a  course  of  six  lectures,  given  monthly  for 
six  consecutive  months.  This  is  received  as  a  deposit  only,  and 
whatever  portion  of  it  is  not  used  will  be  refunded  at  the  end  of 
the  lecture  course.  Checks  or  drafts  for  this  fund  should  be 
made  payable  to  Mr.  C.  H.  Bessent,  Cashier  of  the  Security 
State  Bank,  Norman,  Okla.,  who  has  been  appointed  trustee  for 
this  fund.  He  will  pay  it  out  on  the  order  of  J.  W.  Scroggs, 
Director  of  University  Extension  in  charge  of  this  department. 

In  addition  to  the  deposit  required  by  the  University  Exten¬ 
sion,  there  will  be  the  local  expense  for  stereopticon  outfit, 
express,  and  other  necessary  expenses.  We  can  only  estimate 
these  and  the  estimates  will  vary  in  different  counties.  Of 
course  reductions  in  cost  may  be  made  by  a  good  many  counties 
buying  together.  At  the  request  of  several  county  superintend- 


ents  the  University  Extension  has  undertaken 
chasing  agent  with  the  result  shown  below: 

to  act  as  pur- 

Article 

Retail  price 

Price  thru  us 

Stereopticon 

$30.00 

$18.00 

Adapter  and  lens 

10.00 

6.00 

Prest-o-lite  tank 

18.00 

12.35 

Screen 

15.00 

9.00 

Case  for  Screen,  etc. 

4.50 

2.15 

Case  for  Stereopticon - 

7.50 

4.50 

$85.00  $52.00 

These  prices  are  for  the  very  best  equipment  which  can  be 
obtained.  When  the  prest-o-lite  tank  which  furnishes  gas  for 
the  light  is  empty  it  may  be  exchanged  for  a  new  tank  at  any 
garage  by  paying  $2.50.  (In  some  parts  of  the  state  the  charge 


7 


is  $3.00).  The  cost  of  express  will  be  slight  and  will  depend  on 
the  itineraries  of  the  lectures  as  arranged  by  the  county  superin¬ 
tendents. 

Note  that  the  expense  which  goes  to  the  University  Extension 
is  definite  and  exact: — just  $6.00.  The  Extension  has  nothing 
whatever  to  do  with  the  other  expenses  except  to  aid  communi¬ 
ties  in  getting  reductions  in  cost,  as  shown  above.  This  service 
is  given  entirely  without  charge. 

HOW  WORK  CAN  BE  DONE 

12.  The  natural  head  of  such  an  enterprise  in  any  county 
is  the  County  Superintendent.  He  acts  as  agent  for  the  com¬ 
munities  which  subscribe  for  the  service,  and  is  local  manager. 
If  there  is  a  farm  demonstrator  it  is  very  desirable  that  a  County 
Committee  be  formed  of  which  he  is.  a  member,  thereby  bringing 
to  the  county  not  only  the  assistance  of  the  University  but  the 
great  resources  of  the  A.  &  M.  College.  The  watchword  of  the 
future  must  be  cooperation.  The  utmost  harmonious  utilization 
of  all  our  resources  will  be  none  too  much  for  the  solution  of  the 
great  problem  of  rural  betterment  which  is  before  us. 

THE  COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  S  WORK 

13.  The  most  important  work  of  the  County  Superintendent 
or  local  committee  is  to  arrange  an  itenerary,  to  procure  the 
necessary  supplies,  to  make  necessary  rules,  and  assume  the 
general  management  of  the  entire  enterprise.  He  arranges  an 
itinerary  showing  the  exact  date  each  month’s  lectures  will 
reach  each  district  and  publishes  this  in  the  county  papers,  or 
otherwise  notifies  those  interested.  In  arranging  an  itinerary 
it  is  well  to  have  the  first  and  last  places  convenient  to  the  place 
from  which  the  lecture  slides  will  come,  and  to  the  place  to  which 
they  will  go  next.  Where  counties  are  adjacent  it  is  often  best 
for  the  county  superintendents  to  arrange  their  itineraries  so 


8 


VISUAL  INSTRUCTION 


SUPPLEMENT  TO  BULLETIN  NO.  25. 

Experience  has  taught  us  that  certain  changes  are  advisable 
in  the  plans  for  serving  the  state  with  Visual  Instruction  lec¬ 
tures.  These  changes  will  make  the  service  more  practical,  as 
well  as  more  practicable,  and  more  adaptable  to  the  outlying- 
communities. 

1.  We  shall  not  expect  any  set  of  slides  to  serve  more  than 
15  communities  per  month.  This  gives  an  average  of  two  days 
for  each  lecture.  Last  year  we  endeavored  to  reach  24  com¬ 
munities  each  month.  This  haste  required  that  nobody  slip  a 
c°g. 

2.  Ten  communities  should  compose  the  unit  circuit  the 
coming  season.  Last  year  we  required  12  communities  in  a 
county  to  take  the  service  before  we  could  agree  to  supply  it. 
Ten  communities  should  be  the  aim;  but  we  will  supply  any 
county  as  soon  as  seven  communities  have  paid  for  the  service. 

A  county  may  develop  several  circuits. 

3.  Where  the  slides  and  machine  are  sent  from  communit}'  * 
to  community  it  is  best  to  be  prepared  to  use  the  parcel  post. 
To  do  this  it  is  necessary  to  eliminate  the  presto-lite  tank  and 
screen  from  the  stereopticon  equipment. 

Nearly  every  community  has  an  automobile  equipped  with  a 
presto-lite  gas  tank.  This  tank  can  be  removed  and  carried  in¬ 
to  the  assembly  room  with  very  little  inconvenience.  The  new¬ 
ly  invented  burner  consumes  not  more  than  ten  cents  worth  of 
gas  at  each  entertainment.  Someone  will  generally  donate  the 
little  gas  needed;  or  one  dollar  would  well  pay  him  for  the 
season’s  service. 

Every  school  house  should  have  a  permanent  screen  as  pare 
of  its  equipment.  For  a  total  cost  of  about  $4.00  a  screen  may 
be  mounted  on  a  frame  which  hangs  over  the  black  board  din¬ 
ing  the  entertainment  and  afterwards  may  be  drawn  up  face  to 
the  ceiling  entirely  out  of  the  way.  Here  is  the  plan:  Buy  at 
the  lumber  yard  two  pieces  of  wall  board  (a  heavy  paper  pulp) 

4  x  6  ft.  Mount  these  on  a  frame  6  x  8  ft.  made  of  strips  x  1*4 
inches  set  on  edge.  Thus  the  screen  will  contain  a  single  pei- 
pendicular  crack.  Along  this  central  crack  the  small  wire  nail 


It  chiefs  shod  Icf  be  sank.  These  depressions'  as  wed  as  the  cracf: 
shoald  be  filled  with  thick  paint  taken  from  the  can  before  mix¬ 
ing.  This  special  white  paint  is  bought  at  the  lumber  yard. 
Follow  directions  and  keep  the  paint  thin  with  raw  linseed  oil. 
After  covering  the  screen  with  two  coats  of  the  white  paint 
finish  with  a  coat  of  aluminum  and  gold  paint.  A  can  of  each 
may  be  obtained  at  the  store  seding  paints.  Mix  both  together 


4  feet  4  feet 


with  raw  linseed  oil  and  keep  thin.  Paint  this  last  coat  with 
the  brush  marks  drawn  perpendicularly.  By  this  precaution  the 
screen  will  reflect  to  the  side  better.  Hang  the  screen  in  two 
heavy  screw  eyes  so  it  wdl  swing.  Place  a  15-cent  pulley  in 
the  ceiling  with  a  hook  in  the  end  of  the  rope.  Hook  this 
hook  to  a  strong  cord  attached  to  the  bottom  corners  of  the 
screen.  In  this  way  the  screen  is  held  against  the  ceiling  from 
the  Corners  and  sagging  and  the  consequent  warping  is  pre¬ 
vented.  Every  screen  must  be  smooth  to  reflect  a  picture 
evenly. 

Where  several  communities  secure  the  services  of  the  same 
painter  who  can  make  the  entire  screen  a  saving  in  the  cost  may 
be  realized. 


2 


THE  HHB-AND-SPOKE  PL  AH. 

During  the  coming  season  many  city  superintendents  'pi  a  ft 
to  direct  a  circuit  of  six  to  ten  nearby  communities.  The  super¬ 
intendent  himself  generally  makes  the  first  round  delivering 
lecture  No.  1.  Other  lectures  are  given  by  the  high  school  stu¬ 
dents  learning  to  become  public  speakers.  Thus  a  valuable  fund 
>of  exact  knowledge  is  secured  for  life  to  these  students.  This 
plan  has  the  great  advantage  of  relieving  the  over-worked 
county  superintendent  from  the  circuit-directing  responsibility. 
"Where  this  .plan  is  followed  the  complete  outfit  including  the 
screen  and  tank  should  be  procured.  Often  ten  merchants  are 
ready  to  cooperate  and  purchase  the  entire  outfit.  Each  con¬ 
tributes  a  tenth  of  the  machine  fund  which  is  handled  by  the 
director  of  the  circuit,  and  should  be  more  than  the  bare  cost  of 
the  outfit.  Each  local  firm  thus  contributing  is  allowed  one  ad. 
slide  before  each  entertainment  given  with  the  outfit.  Trips 
are  made  to  school  houses  three  or  four  times  a  week  until  the 
circuit  has  been  served  with  any  lecture, 

THE  COST. 

The  deposit  for  the  use  of  the  slides  is  the  same — $1.00  for 
each  lecture  asked  for,  payable  strictly  in  advance.  Each  com¬ 
munity  retains  the  manuscript  furnished.  If  for  any  reason  a 
lecture  fails  to  reach  a  community  it  will  be  supplied  later  to 
thoce  whose  money  was  invested. 

The  prices  for  the  stereopticon  outfit  quoted  in  bulletin  No. 
25,  page  7,  changed  July  1,  1916.  We  prefer  that  circuits  buy 
their  machine  direct  from  the  factory.  We  are  not  pushing  the 
sale  of  any  machine;  but  found  the  Victor,  made  by  The  Victor 
Animatograph  Co.,  Davenport,  la.,  best  suited  to  our  needs. 
Though  the  cost  of  all  material  has  soared  recently,  the  Exten¬ 
sion  Division,  as  purchasing  agent,  will  endeavor  to  save  for 
the  communities  about  30  percent  of  the  cost  of  each  outfit  if 
bought  singly.  Wholesale  prices  effective  until  Oct.  1,  f.  o.  b. 
Norman  are  as  follows: 

Victor  stereopticon  machine  (with  new  burner  and  case  com¬ 
plete)  $31.00. 

Size  B  Presto-lite  tank  filled  ready  for  use  (price  subject  to 
change)  $13.00. 

Gold  King  screen  mounted  on  roller  (with  case  complete) 

$14.00. 


3 


When  the  plan  including  the  use  of  parcel  post  is  followed 
only  the  stereopticon  machine  need  be  purchased.  Upon  re¬ 
ceipt  of  a  check  drawn  in  favor  of  C.  H.  Bessent,  Trustee,  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  above  prices,  we  will  endeavor  to  fill  orders. 

It  is  indispensable  to  the  service  to  exhibit  all  the  advertis¬ 
ing  slides.  The  Extension  Division  retains  the  privilege  of 
placing  not  more  than  ten  such  slides  in  each  box  of  lecture 
slides.  These  slides  advertise  good  firms  whose  business  is  un¬ 
objectionable.  Without  the  small  income  derived  from  these 
advertising  slides  the  service  could  not  possibly  be  furnished 
at  the  trifling  cost  of  one  dollar  per  entertainment.  We  also 
grant  a  like  privilege  to  the  local  director  of  the  service.  By 
showing  not  more  than  ten  local  slides  the  necessary  local  ex¬ 
penses  may  be  met  to  the  mutual  benefit  of  all  concerned. 
Should  more  than  ten  local  slides  be  shown,  it  is  against  the  / 
explicit  instructions  of  the  Extension  Division.  All  income 
from  advertising  becomes  a  deposit  and  is  paid  out  only  for  the 
purpose  of  making  the  service  possible  at  the  low  cost  and  for 
improving  the  system. 

HELPFUL  SUGGESTIONS. 

It  is  eminently  desirable  to  commence  each  entertainment 
with  community  singing.  The  power  of  song  exerts  a  wonder¬ 
fully  harmonizing  influence  over  community  gatherings.  It  de¬ 
velops  the  proper  social  mind  and  attunes  the  sensitive  chords 
to  responsive  action.  For  this  purpose  we  are  printing  a  num¬ 
ber  of  songs  suitable  for  such  occasions,  including  state,  na¬ 
tional,  folk,  school,  and  religious  selections.  These  books  wil! 
soon  be  available  at  cost — probably  $3.00  per  100. 

In  the  majority  of  schools  it  is  feasible  for  the  teacher  to  get 
two  or  three  pupils  to  give  recitations.  These  recitations  give 
variety,  which  is  the  secret  of  every  successful  program,  and 
are  much  enjoyed  by  the  parents  who  might  othrwise  stay  at 
home. 

Many  teachers  have  added  greatly  to  the  development  of 
neighborly  sentiment  by  enjoying  at  the  end  of  the  entertain¬ 
ment  some  seasonable  refreshments.  For  instance,  one  suc¬ 
cessful  teacher  built  a  bon  fire  in  the  early  evening  during  May 
around  which  the  young  folks  played  games  while  the  older 
people  made  ice  cream  and  visited.  They  then  filled  the  school 
house  to  overflowing  while  the  entertainment  was  given  and  at 


4 


its  close  returned  to  thebon  fire  to  eat  the  ice  cream.  That  is 
real  comm(unity  development.  This  teacher  has  now  a  state¬ 
wide  reputation  as  a  community  builder  and  his  work  has 
changed  for  the  better  a  generation  of  young  people. 

Much  permanent  information  has  been  gained  by  the  pupils 
in  several  schools  where  the  teachers  clinched  the  lecture- 
aroused  insight  by  special  study  the  following  day.  Some 
teachers  required  the  older  pupils  to  write  an  essay  on  what 
they  learned.  These  essays  were  a  source  of  pride  to  the  par¬ 
ents  and  made  them  eager  to  attend  the  lecture  where  they 
could  gain  interesting  facts  from  this  new  source  of  knowledge. 
Other  teachers  asked  each  pupil  to  report  on  one  slide.  At  the 
close  of  this  short  report  the  school  would  turn  to  the  map  and 
geography  and  encyclopedia  and  locate  the  source  of  the  pic¬ 
ture  and  learn  more  about  the  life  and  interests  of  that  country. 

Since  the  purpose  of  this  service  is  to  place  at  the  disposal 
of  live  local  forces  the  means  whereby  the  entire  community 
may  come  together  at  least  once  a  month  to  become  better  ac¬ 
quainted  and  to  develop  the  cooperative  spirit,  we  merely  sug¬ 
gest  the  folowing  as  a  possible  and  successful  program: 

Community  Singing _ 15  minutes 

(a)  Old  Folks  at  Home 

(b)  The  Old  Oaken  Bucket 

(c)  Oklahoma 

(d)  Faith  of  Our  Fathers 

(e)  America  (all  standing) 


Recitations  (two  or  three)  _ 15  minutes 

Illustrated  Lecture  _ 60  minutes 

Refreshments 

Song — Goodnight  Ladies. 


The  persons  who  handle  the  slides  at  any  lecture  should  use 
care  to  see  that  the  numbers  on  the  corner  of  the  slides  follow 
each  other  in  order.  Otherwise  slide  number  ten  might  come 
where  fifty  should  be.  When  the  slides  are  sent  out  they  are 
arranged  in  exactly  the  same  order  as  in  the  lecture  manuscript. 

It  is  essential  to  secure  a  clear  focus  with  the  stereopticor. 
machine.  A  little  practice  will  enable  any  intelligent  person  to 
find  a  clear  focus.  (1)  Take  out  and  clean  the  large  condens¬ 
ing  lens.  Work  over  the  table,  for  dropping  them  on  the  floor 
will  break  them.  Don’t  interchange  them — the  shorter  focus 


5 


goes  next  to  the  burner.  (2)  Draw  back  the  lamp  house  about 
an  inch.  (3)  Slip  back  and  forth  the  small,  telescoped  rods. 
(4)  Get  the  final  touch  of  the  focus  by  turning  the  knob  on  the 
projecting  lens.  (5)  Slowly  turn  on  the  gas  until  you  obtain 
the  maximum  light  without  blowing  the  blue  flame  away  from 
the  burner. 

If  for  some  unforeseen  reason  it  should  become  necessary 
to  read  the  manuscript,  it  has  been  done  successfully  as  fol¬ 
lows:  Procure  a  large  pasteboard  box  such  as  breakfast  foods 
are  shipped  in;  ventilate  with  small  holes  and  set  a  lamp  in  it; 
cut  three  sides  of  a  square  door  leaving  it  attached  on  the  upper 
side;  prop  up  the  hanging  door  with  a  pin  or  tooth  pick;  let  the 
"eader  sit  by  the  box  in  the  middle  of  the  room  and  read  with  a 
loud,  clear  voice.  It  is  often  best  to  read  only  a  part  of  each 
paragraph.  No  slide  should  ever  be  kept  on  the  screen  longer 
than  one  minute.  Tap  with  a  pencil  for  another  slide.  People 
demand  action  these  days.  Put  spirit  into  the  entire  program. 


RULES. 

DON’T  READ  THE  MANUSCRIPT.  EXPLAIN  TWO 
OR  THREE  FACTS  ABOUT  EACH  SLIDE. 

DON’T  LEAVE  ANY  PICTURE  ON  THE  SCREEN 
LONGER  THAN  ONE  MINUTE. 

CLEAN  THE  INSIDE  LENS.  FOCUS  THE  MACHINE 
PRACTICE  GETTING  THE  BEST  LIGHT. 

DON’T  EXPECT  TOO  MUCH.  ADD  VARIETY  TO 
THE  PROGRAM.  DETERMINE  TO  SUCCEED. 


Tishomingo,  Oklahoma,  June  19,  191(1 
Dr.  J.  W.  Scroggs,  Norman,  Oklahoma. 

Dear  Friend: 

The  lectures  were  largely  attended  and  the  people  were 
well  pleased  with  the  work,  which  I  aim  to  put  in  more  of  my 
districts  next  year. 

This  is  the  best  thing  I  have  seen  to  build  up  community 
interest  and  co-operation  in  the  school,  not  to  speak  of  the 


instruction  the  people  get  at  the  lectures.  I  wish  every  dis¬ 
trict  in  Johnston  County  would  take  it  next  year. 

With  best  wishes  for  you  and  the  great  work  that  our 
greatest  school  is  doing  in  Oklahoma,  I  remain, 

Very  truly  yours 

T.  D.  D.  QUAID. 

January  5,  1916. 

Dear  Mr.  Scroggs: 

The  lectures  have  been  appreciated  by  our  people.  J 
think  that  next  year  we  shall  have  no  trouble  in  having  all  our 
schools  take  the  course  and  this  will  make  nice  work. 

June.  26,  1916. 

We  have  received  four  of  the  six  lectures  paid  for.  I  gave 
each  district  taking  the  course  the  privelege  or  money  re¬ 
funded  or  the  remaining  numbers  in  the  fall.  All  have  asked 
for  the  remaining  numbers  of  the  course. 

Very  truly, 

L.  E.  RATHBUN,  County  Supt.,  Texas  County. 


I  have  used  the  stereopticon  picture  machine  as  put  out  by 
the  University  Extension  Division  in  my  work  in  the  Custer 
County  Model  School. 

Nothing  that  we  have  tried  has  succeeded  so  well  in  up¬ 
building  the  community  center  idea.  Not  only  are  the  lectures 
entertaining,  but  they  are  extremely  educational  as  well. 

This  machine  is  put  out  at  cost  by  the  Extension  Division 
of  the  State  University  and  is  one  of  the  many  ways  that 
institution  is  serving  its  people.  You  may  be  sure  of  fine 
treatment  on  the  part  of  these  gentlemen  in  getting  slides  etc. 

J.  P.  GIBBS,  Indianapolis,  Oklahoma 

I  find  visual  instruction  as  introduced  by  the  University  of 
Oklahoma  has  been  a  great  thing  in  Pottawatomie  County  to 
get  the  people  in  rural  communities  together.  It  is  an  easy 
matter  to  get  enough  local  advertising  to  pay  expenses  and 
when  once  a  lecture  is  successfully  given  it  is  no  trouble  to 
promote  the  series  and  instill  into  the  people  the  purpose  of 
the  visual  instruction  idea.  Every  school  in  our  county  that 


7 


had  the  lectures  last  year  wants  them  next  year  and  every 
school  district  in  our  circuit  has  asked  to  join  it 

The  only  chance  of  failure  I  can  see  in  the  plan,  is  the  im¬ 
proper  giving  of  the  lecture. 

Several  of  my  high  school  boys  took  turns  giving  the  lec¬ 
tures.  They  gave  complete  satisfaction  besides  getting  exact 
information  and  practice  in  public  speaking,  which  fully  re¬ 
paid  their  efforts. 

H.  L.  ALLEN,  Tecumseh,  Okla. 

We  are  having  good  crowds.  It  is  a  success  beyond  our 
highest  expectations. — T.  D.  FELTS,  County  Supt.,  Love 
county. 

The  best  thing  I  have  yet  tried  in  arousing  interest  in 
school  work. — S.  M.  McCUISTION,  County  Supt.,  McClain 
County. 

“The  lectures  are  the  finest  thing  I  know  to  build  up 
community  spirit.,, — WILLIAM  SMITH,  Teacher  in  Potta¬ 
watomie  County. 


“Our  people  are  always  eager  for  the  next  lecture  to  come.” 
— JOHN  WILHITE,  Elgin,  Comanche  County. 


that  the  box  of  slides  can  pass  immediately  from  one  county  to 
the  other  by  having  the  first  district  in  one  county  near  to  the 
last  district  in  the  other.  This  will  save  time  and  expense  in 
transferring  slides  from  one  county  to  another. 

THE  OPERATION 

14.  The  county  superintendent  sees  that  the  first  operator 
who  is  to  manipulate  the  stereopticon  learns  how  to  manage  it. 
Suppose  the  lecture  goes  first  to  District  32,  on  Nov.  1st,  and 
on  the  following  night,  Nov.  2nd,  to  District  46.  The  one  who  is 
to  manage  the  stereopticon  in  District  46  on  Nov.  2nd  goes  to 
District  32  on  the  night  of  Nov.  1st.  (If  possible  the  one  who 
gives  the  lecture  should  go  also.)  The  operator  in  District  32 
(who  has  learned  from  the  county  superintendent  how  to  man¬ 
age  the  instrument)  is  to  show  the  operator  from  District  46 
all  he  can  •  about  managing  the  instrument.  Then  the  latter 
operator  takes  the  outfit  home  with  him,  where  he  shows  the 
operator  from  the  next  district  what  he  himself  has  learned.  In 
this  way  the  lecture  outfit  passes  from  district  to  district  till 
it  has  reached  all  the  districts  who  have  subscribed  for  the 
service. 

The  instructions  which  accompany  each  instrument  are  ample 
to  enable  any  one  to  manipulate  it  perfectly. 

HOW  THE  MONEY  CAN  BE  RAISED 

15.  In  many  counties  the  county  commissioners  are  buying 
the  stereopticon  outfit  so  that  it  is  the  permanent  property  of 
the  county  as  it  ought  to  be.  Where  they  do  this  but  little  money 
is  required,  only  $6  for  each  community.  If  a  little  advertising 
can  be  secured  no  more  money  will  be  needed.  It  is  easy  to 
secure  enough  money  by  advertising  to  pay  for  the  outfit;  in 
some  counties  this  has  already  been  done.  Money  may  also  be 
raised  by  suppers,  entertainments,  concerts,  or  by  subscription. 
In  many  communities  the  school  boards  are  appropriating  the 


9 


$6  .00;  this  will  be  done  everywhere  as  soon  as  the  work  comes  to 
be  understood.  No  possible  use  of  $6.00  could  render  so  much 
educational  service;  and  it  reaches  not  only  the  school  but  the 
entire  community. 

WHAT  IS  DONE  WITH  THE  $6.00? 

16.  This  is  a  fair  question.  At  the  end  of  the  lecture  courses 
next  spring-  a  full  report  of  expenditures  will  be  published  and  a 
copy  furnished  each  subscriber.  The  chief  costs  of  the  visual 
instruction  service  are  preparing  and  printing  the  lectures,  the 
slides  and  their  cases,  clerical  work,  traveling  expenses,  postage, 
and  smaller  incidentals.  The  $6.00  will  not  pay  all  this  expense. 
As  stated  elsewhere,  it  is  expected  that  advertising  will  pay  a 
large  part  of  it.  The  entire  service  is  conducted  in  the  most 
open  way  possible,  and  every  phase  of  it  is  open  to  the  inspection 
of  each  subscriber.  It  is  hoped  that  the  County  Superintendents 
of  the  state  will  appoint  an  auditing  committee  to  examine  the 
expenditure  of  the  $6.00  deposits. 

THE  LECTURE  MANUSCRIPTS 

17.  Some  lectures  are  prepared  by  members  of  the  faculty 
of  the  University  of  Oklahoma,  some  have  been  procured  from 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  some  have  been  purchased  from  the 
publishers,  and  some  are  prepared  by  the  University  Extension 
of  the  University  of  Oklahoma.  The  total  cost  of  the  lectures 
varies  from  fifty  to  several  hundred  dollars. 

ADVERTISING 

18.  Each  county  may  exhibit  not  over  10  advertising  slides 
with  each  lecture.  When  a  box  of  slides  reaches  a  county  the 
county  superintendent  puts  the  advertising  slides  into  it  along 
with  the  lecture  slides.  After  wide  consultation  the  following 
schedule  of  prices  has  been  adopted.  At  these  prices  the  service 
offers  advertising  opportunities  which  are  absolutely  unequalled 
either  in  economy  or  effectiveness. 


10 


1  advertisement,  one  slide,  1  month,  24  exhibitions,  4,000  to 
7,000  spectators,  $7.50. 

1  advertisement,  one  slide,  3  months,  72  exhibitions,  12,000 
to  20,000  spectators,  $20.00. 

1  advertisement,  one  slide,  6  months,  144  exhibitions,  24,000 
to  40,000  spectators,  $30.00. 

The  University  Extension  reserves  3  minutes  at  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  each  lecture  for  ads  which  we  will  solicit.  These  are  in 
addition  to  the  local  slides  described  above.  It  is  this  which 
reduced  the  price  of  the  lectures  to  $6.00  from  $12.00  as  at  first 
announced.  No  questionable  advertisements  are  to  be  accepted. 

No  means  at  the  local  advertiser’s  command  can  equal  this 
as  a  means  of  familiarizing  the  public  with  his  name  and  busi¬ 
ness.  The  local  committee  can  easily  obtain  enough  advertising 
to  buy  the  lecture  outfit  and  meet  all  incidental  expenses.  The 
advertiser  must  of  course  furnish  his  own  slides.  These  can  be 
obtained  from  slide  makers  from  $1.00  up  according  to  style. 
The  Extension  Division  will  act  as  agent  without  charge  in 
securing  such  slides  when  requested. 

HANDLING  THE  STEREOPTICON 

19.  Full  and  lucid  explanations  are  given  with  each  instru¬ 
ment  so  that  any  one  can  readily  learn  to  manipulate  it.  A  few 
additional  suggestions  will  not  be  amiss. 

1.  Keep  lenses  and  slides  clean.  They  should  never  be 
touched  with  the  bare  fingers,  and  when  this  cannot  be  helped 
the  glass  should  be  wiped  off  with  a  clean,  soft  cotton  cloth  at 
once.  The  heating  of  the  glass  will  in  time  etch  the  dirt  into 
the  surface  of  the  glass  and  cause  the  pictures  to  be  both  dim 
and  indistinct. 

2.  Turn  the  light  low  at  first  so  that  the  lenses  will  heat  up 
gradually.  If  heated  suddenly,  especially  in  cold  weather  they 
are  apt  to  crack.  After  use  the  instrument  should  cool  off  slowly. 


11 


It  should  never  be  taken  out  into  the  cold  air  till  it  has  cooled  off. 

3.  Be  very  careful  of  the  slides.  Do  not  pile  them  up  where 
they  may  be  knocked  off;  this  easily  happens  in  the  dark.  The 
best  plan  is  to  put  each  slide  back  into  the  slide  case  when  it  is 
taken  out  of  the  stereopticon.  Be  sure  that  the  slide  case  is  not 
placed  where  it  can  fall.  Some  of  the  cases  of  slides  are  worth 
from  $75.00  to  $100.00  and  should  be  handled  accordingly. 

4.  The  prest-o-lite  tanks  of  40  cub.  ft.  capacity  usually  give 
light  for  60  or  65  hours,  and  so  one  tank  should  last  for  30 
lectures  if  no  gas  is  wasted.  The  pressure  when  fresh  is  about 
275  or  280  lbs.;  after  the  pressure  gets  below  40  lbs.  the  light  is 
likely  to  become  dimmer.  As  soon  as  the  pressure  runs  low  and 
the  light  begins  to  be  dim  take  the  tank  to  the  nearest  garage 
and  exchange  it  for  a  new  one.  In  any  one  evening’s  use  the 
pressure  should  never  diminish  more  than  8  or  9  lbs.  It  is  easy 
to  calculate,  then,  how  long  the  tank  will  last.  Suppose  the 
pressure  gauge  stands  at  146;  that  would  be  106  lbs.  above  40, 
and  the  tank  should  be  good  for  about  12  lectures. 

MUSICAL  INSTRUCTION 

20.  The  old  fashioned  singing  school  has  never  been  replaced. 
Community  singing  is  more  neglected  in  the  United  States  than 
in  any  other  great  country,  and  no  where  more  than  in  Oklahoma. 

The  special  object  of  the  University  Extension  musical  in¬ 
struction  is  the  development  of  community  singing;  it  is  as  much 
sociological  as  musical.  People  will  sing  together  who  will  not 
speak  when  they  meet.  Music  is  our  greatest  agency  in  the 
development  of  the  social  mind,  and  so  prepares  the  way  for  all 
kinds  of  cooperative  and  progressive  effort. 

THE  PLAN 

21.  The  University  Extension  employs  several  excellent 
music  instructors  and  conductors  and  furnishes  them  at  cost  to 


12 


such  committees  as  desire  their  services.  They  are  thorough 
musicians  and  in  every  way  fine  men.  They  will  aim  in  every 
way  to  develop  musical  taste  and  skill  in  the  communities  where 
they  are  called.  And  everywhere  they  will  organize  and  leave 
behind  them  a  musical  organization  for  community  singing. 
Most  of  the  music  will  be  furnished  free  by  the  University  Ex¬ 
tension. 

The  Instructor  will  remain  for  two  weeks  and  will  teach 
three  or  more  classes  a  day,  or  as  many  as  the  community  will 
provide  for.  The  day  classes  will  be  given  especially  to  teaching, 
but  the  evening  meetings  should  be  given  as  much  as  possible 
to  Community  Singing,  Chorus  Singing  in  which  the  entire 
community  can  participate. 

THE  COST 

22.  One  of  these  instructors  will  come  to  any  community 
and  teach  a  class  for  $60,  board,  and  one  half  the  gross 
proceeds  of  a  concert  at  the  close.  In  some  cases  the  school 
board  is  appropriating  the  money  as  a  part  of  the  regular  edu¬ 
cational  expense  of  the  community.  As  the  work  becomes  better 
known  this  will  be  the  rule,  for  everybody  can  then  attend, 
especially  the  children  of  the  poor  who  need  the  solace  of  music 
the  most.  Or,  a  class  of  30  may  pay  $2.00  each;  or  a  class  of  40 
$1.50  each,  and  so  on. 

Altho  these  charges  lack  considerable  of  paying  the  actual 
cost  of  the  service,  yet  if  a  community  can  get  25  students  sub¬ 
scribed  at  $2.00  apiece  an  instructor  will  come  and  we  will  take 
chances  on  his  being  able  to  increase  the  enrollment  to  30  after 
he  begins.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  it  would  be  good  educa¬ 
tional  policy  for  the  state  to  pay  a  larger  proportion  of  the  cost 
of  this  musical  service  but  the  legislative  appropriation  is  utterly 
inadequate. 


13 


EQUIPMENT 

23.  The  class  must  furnish  the  room  well  lighted,  an  instru¬ 
ment  for  accompaniment.  Where  it  is  at  all  possible  a  piano 
and  organ  should  both  be  furnished.  If  there  are  those  who 
play  a  violin,  clarinet,  cornet,  or  other  orchestra  instrument  the 
conductors  will  utilize  them.  The  aim  is  to  fully  develop  and 
organize  all  the  musical  resource  of  the  community.  In  some 
cases  the  members  of  the  class  will  be  required  to  provide  them¬ 
selves  with  text  books;  the  chorus  music  and  music  for  commun¬ 
ity  singing  will  be  furnished  free  by  the  University  Extension. 


QUESTIONS  ANSWERED 

(These  questions  have  been  asked). 

What  do  you  mean  by  Visual  Instruction?  See  sections  1,  2. 

What  are  you  aiming  at?  See  sections  6,  7. 

Who  gives  the  lectures?  See  sections  3,  4. 

How  do  we  get  the  machine  from  place  to  place?  See  sec¬ 
tions  13,  14. 

What  does  the  machine  cost?  See  section  11. 

What  is  done  with  the  $6.00?  See  section  16. 

What  would  the  machine  cost  if  bought  singly?  The  retail 
price.  See  section  11. 

What  subjects  do  the  lectures  cover?  See  section  8. 

What  is  the  total  cost  to  each  community?  See  section  11. 

Who  has  charge  of  the  machine?  The  County  Superinten¬ 
dent.  See  sections  12,  13,  14. 

Can  we  get  the  lectures  without  having  a  debating  or  other 
club?  Yes.  See  section  7. 

How  can  we  raise  the  money?  See  sections  15,  18. 

How  soon  must  we  know?  New  groups  will  begin  the  first 


14 


and  fifteenth  of  each  month. 

What  about  a  school  where  there  are  no  large  pupils?  As 
good  as  any. 

Do  12  schools  have  to  go  together,  or  can  a  different  number 
combine?  See  section  10. 

How  may  we  know  it  is  not  graft?  Because  you  are  offered 
$300  worth  of  lectures  for  $6.00.  See  Section  5. 

We  shall  be  glad  to  answer  any  other  questions. 

While  these  two  lines  of  service  will  add  greatly  to  the  hap¬ 
piness  and  enjoyment  of  country  life,  they  will  do  much  more. 
They  will  create  the  spirit  of  unity  and  cooperation  which  are 
indespensable  to  all  rural  progress;  to  agricultural  credits,  to 
cooperative  buying  and  selling,  to  better  educational  facilities, 
better  enforcement  of  laws, — to  everything  that  depends  upon 
cooperative  effort.  It  will  also  render  much  direct  service  to 
good  roads,  sanitation  and  health  and  vigor,  and  to  moral  and 
intellectual  advancement. 

WHAT  ONE  COUNTY  SUPERINTENDENT  THINKS  WHO 
HAS  TRIED  IT 

Fairview,  Okla.,  Oct.  20,  1915. 

Dear  Dr.  Scroggs: 

The  Stereopticon  Lecture  work  is  in  full  force  in  Major  coun¬ 
ty  and  the  indication  is  good  for  a  successful  operation.  Four 
machines  were  started  on  Monday  night  of  this  week.  The 
visual  instruction  work  has  done  more  for  the  school  work  of  this 
county  already  than  anything  before.  It  has  created  an  interest 
in  education  that  could  not  be  surpassed.  It  has  exceeded  my 
greatest  expectations  in  interest  and  so  far  in  attendance  at  the 
meetings.  The  lectures  which  you  sent  are  all  good. 

Respectfully, 

T.  E.  McLAIN. 

County  Superintendent  Major  County. 


15 


The  University  Bulletin  has  been  established  by  the  university. 
The  reasons  that  have  led  to  such  a  step  are:  first,  to  provide  a  means 
to  set  before  the  people  of  Oklahoma,  from  time  to  time,  information 
about  the  work  of  the  different  departments  of  the  university:  and, 
second,  to  provide  a  way  for  the  publishing  of  departmental  reports, 
papers,  theses,  and  such  other  matter  as  the  university  believes 
would  be  helpful  to  the  cause  of  education  in  our  state.  The  Bulletin 
will  be  sent  post  free  to  all  who  apply  for  it.  The  university  desires 
especially  to  exchange  with  other  schools  and  colleges  for  similar 
publications. 

Communications  should  be  addressed: 

THE  UNIVERSITY  BULLETIN 
University  Hall, 

Norman,  Oklahoma. 


Oklahoma  University  Press 


